SC probing judiciary's version of 'Janet Lim-Napoles'

The Supreme Court (SC) is investigating a woman who may just be the judiciary's version of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

 

A report on GMA's 24 Oras on Thursday night quoted Court Administrator Midas Marquez as saying his office has been monitoring reports about the said woman identified as "Ma'am Arlene" by columnist Jarius Bondoc as early as September.

 

Bondoc, in his column published in the Philippine Star earlier in the week, said "Ma'am Arlene" throws birthday parties for appellate court justices and trial court judges and finances their family trips abroad, among other things.

 

He said this puts them in her debt, which they pay by allegedly deciding in favor of her clients.

 

Earlier, Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno had admitted to receiving complaints about judges who are supposedly biased and corrupt.

 

She likewise asked for those who know about such issues to approach them with the assurance that they will " see to it that the axe will fall on whoever deserves it, even if it falls close to us."

 

She did not, however, mention "Ma'am Arlene."

 

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte has also asked those who have information about the matter to come out, saying the trust of the public on the judiciary is very important.

Raps vs Napoles